This summary is based on the article:Effects of meal frequency on weight loss and body composition: a meta-analysis
Many people believe that eating small, frequent meals can help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy body. Some studies have supported this idea, suggesting that a higher frequency of eating is linked to lower body fat. To investigate this further, researchers conducted a meta-analysis, which is a study that combines and analyzes results from multiple studies.
They identified 15 studies that examined the relationship between meal frequency and changes in body fat and muscle mass. Overall, the analysis showed that more frequent meals were associated with reductions in body fat and body fat percentage, as well as an increase in muscle mass.
However, when they looked more closely at the data, they found that the positive findings were mainly influenced by a single study. This raises questions about whether the benefits of eating more frequently actually translate to improvements in body composition.
In conclusion, while the initial results of this meta-analysis suggest that increased meal frequency may have some benefits for body composition, it is important to approach these findings with caution. Further research is needed to better understand the effects of meal frequency on weight loss and body composition.